The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-08-14

and mothers, who, upon being notified OF the
presencs OF the new moon In the western
heavens, win side around gracefully In or
der to inspect tho luminary over the right
shoulder rather than the left So there are
those who experience certain sense OF dis
couragement when they spill salt ct table;
and who infer from slight twitching OF the
ear that they are the distant objects OF
malice or detraction. But these are minor
superstitions, perhaps unworthy OF tho at
tention Of the Soclety's census takers.
The American Society for Psychical Re-
search Ia modelled after q well-known Eng
lIsh association which has been In existence
for several years. It is independently pur-
suing the same line OF inquiries relative to
alleged phenomena along the borderland Of
science. The headquarters Of tho American
organization, as might be expected, are
in Boston, and It's support comes largely
from that town and from Cambridge. There
are about three dozen New Workers among
the members and associate members. Mr..
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, the Rev. W. 3.
RAINsFoRp, DIR. ]. B. HOLDER Of the Ameri-
can Museum OF Natural History, Mr.. HENRY
uoLT, and President BARNARD OF Columbia
College belong to the American Society
for Psychical Research. Orange, In New Jer-
sey, which Is rapidly acquiring fame as
storm centre Of esoteric thought,
is represented In the list; and in other towns
the names of such distinguished gentlemen
as Prof. NEwcOSfB and Prof. LANGLEY OF
Washington, Prof. A. S. PACKARD OF Provi-
dence, ex-President ANDREW d. WHITE
OF Cornell University, Prof @. 8. SAR-
GENT of Brookline, President SEELYE OF Am
herst, ASA GRAY. @. G. EVERETT, and half
dozen other Harvard professors, the Rev.
PHILLIPS BROOKS, and Mr.. EDWARD BUR-
CESS, designer of psychical phenomena In
tho way of cup-defenders. and perhaps to-
day the most popular man In the United
States, sufficiently indicate the character Of
the membership and the widespread interest
in the Society's Investigations.
We do not understand that membership In
this society or devotion to its peculiar re-
searches necessarily implies any belief In
spooks and haunts and mind reading, or
anything more, In fact, than awillingness to
apply scientific methods to the resolution OF
alleged mysteries that will continue to be
mysterious so long as they flourish in partial
darkness. The declared object of the So
ciety is 1.-The systematic study OF the laws
of mental action" and its operations at pres
ent are in the respective fields assigned to
these several committees:
1. On Thought rransfersnce; charged with an exam
ination Of and Of any influence which
may be exerted by one mind upon another, otherwise
than through the recognized sensory channeA
. On Apparitions and Haunted Houses; commissioned
to make careful Investigation Of reports resting on
strong testimony, of apparitons occurring At the
ment Of death or otherwise, and Of. disturbances In
houses reputed to be haunted.
3. On Hypnotism. Mesmerism, and Clairvoyance
4. On Mediumistic Phenomena; commissioned 70 In
qure into various alleged physosl phenomena oom
monty called spirituaiistio.
5. On Experimental Psychology
We fancy that up to date the achieve
ment OF tho American Society, like those Of
its English predecessor and parent, has been
for the most part in negative rather than
positive results. This would be discourage
ing If the Society were merely an association
OF marvel hunters, on the cape for news Of
the sensational and the supernatural. But
the attitude of these investigators is quite
different. They are exploring a field which
men OF science, as a rule, have been too re-
luctant to approach. The field Is not the lees
interesting and important on that account,
particularly to those who like their science
with dash Of mystery in 1t. 1t Is Of great
importance to settle definitely. one way or
the other, the phenomena which gain 80
much by popular exaggeration and ire
sponsible narration; and to test the truth Of
those highly interesting superstitions which
are the heirOoms of the centuries.